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Opinions Needed

I received the following email tonight. Not knowing any of the restaurants listed, I decided to ask those in the know what their opinions of the OP might be. I deleted his name just to be on the safe side.

Message:
Dear Board Smith, My name is and I'm from Portugal. I'm sending this e-mail to enquire you about a possible partnership that I believe, might interest you. I'm a young cook that is doing his best to have a brilliant future. During the past year I've been working at some of the best restaurants in Lisbon. I'll beggin by saying what I can deliver to your interests. I'm currently working at Restaurante Feitoria, Portugal (1 Michelin Star) and in the next 16 months I'll be working at Viajante, London (1 Michelin Star, The World's 50 Best Restaurants), Noma, Copenhagen (2 Michelin Stars, 2nd Best Restaurant in The World, Most Famous Restaurant In The World), In De Wulf, Belgium (1 Michelin Star, The World's 50 Best Restaurants) and Restaurant Andre, Singapore (The World's 50 Best Restaurants). Besides that I'll finish my degree in Culiny Arts in Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril, work in some of the most prestigious gastronomic events in Portugal like International Gourmet Festival (http://www.internationalgourmetfestival.com/) that's taking place in Vila Joya, Portugal (2 Michelin Stars, The World's 50 Best Restaurants) and it's going to gather 37 of the best chefs in the World to make a 10-day event, and it's going to be the biggest gastronomic festival ever held in Portugal. I'll also take part in Rota das Estrelas, a 7-weekend event made by all the starry chefs from Portugal that celebrates the win/maintenance of their Michelin Stars. Besides that I'll be in every other important event that takes place in Portugal and probably some in Spain. I'm also associated with some brands to make show-cookings in food & beverage professionals fairs like Alimentária 2014 and SISAG 2014 that every year draw thousands of professionals from Portugal and Spain I would commit myself to bring your brand to this events and to the restaurants where I'll work. Some of the events I will participate draw a lot of media attention. If I have your brand advertised it will arouse the attention of however is watching and still don't know your products and they should be able to find your website easily. Portugal is going through a golden age when it comes to gastronomy, everyone talks about cooking and the cooks are getting more attention and coverage every single day. I can tell you that we have very good chefs in Portugal, but it's very rare to find a young cook that is able to work in so many of the best restaurants in Europe, much less in that space of time, so I honestly expect to give some interviews to magazines, newspapers and tv specially after my time in Noma. When that happens I wouldnt't forget to mention who helped along the way. Every cook loves good kitchen gear and like everyone else we like to find new brands that are not so known around here, so I can assure you that Board Smith having such high quality products that are essential to a professional chef as it is will arouse a lot of attention from everyone and they will ask to more about them and to give them a try. In that kind of events, where chefs from different countries are invited and bring some of their kitchen staff is a perfect chance to spread the word. Even in the college my colleagues will soon end their degrees and find themselves looking for more serious kitchen gear and they will remember the name of your brand. Also once they finish their education they are going to work in different restaurants and spread the brand over those places. I'm also considering to start a cooking blog where I would put some recipes and photos, talk about gastronomy and about my journeys through the restaurants I'm going to work at, and I have friends that are producers and they already told me that if I was interested in making some cooking videos that they would do them with me, so that might be an option. I've told you the restaurants I'm sure I will be working in, but after that I will keep wanting more and I'm already starting to make plans ahead. All I can promise you is that I have very big ambitions and I'm a very grateful person so you should know that if you help me I will do everything I can to bring you new costumers. What I would like from this partnership would be from you to provide me with some of your products that I believe I may need. Then I can use your products in college, show-cookings, restaurants, in my blog and videos. I'm investing all I have to be one of the best chefs in Portugal in the near future and I would like to be able to be sponsored by one of the best brands in the industry. I believe this partnership can be extremly advantageous to you. I would like to hear your feedback, even if you think this is not of your interest. Thanks in advance for your time,

Hmm, As I started reading this it quickly became apparent it sounded familiar. SO I looked back through y in box and found this
I received this email 6/16/2013

"Dear HHH,
My name is and I'm from Portugal.
I'm sending this e-mail to enquire you about a possible partnership that I believe, might interest you.
I'm a young cook that is doing his best to have a brilliant future. During the past year I've working in some of the best restaurants in Lisbon.
I'll being by saying what I can deliver to your interests. For the next 16 months I'll work in Restaurante Feitoria, Portugal (1 Michelin Star), Viajante, London (1 Michelin Star, The World's 50 Best Restaurants), Noma, Copenhagen (2 Michelin Stars, 2nd Best Restaurant in The World, Most Famous Restaurant In The World), In De Wulf, Belgium (1 Michelin Star, The World's 50 Best Restaurants) and Restaurant Andre, Singapore (The World's 50 Best Restaurants). Besides that I'll finish my degree in Culiny Arts in Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril, work in some of the most prestigious gastronomic events in Portugal like International Gourmet Festival (http://www.internationalgourmetfestival.com/) that's taking place in Vila Joya, Portugal (2 Michelin Stars, The World's 50 Best Restaurants) and it's going to gather 34 of the best chefs in the World to make a 9-day event, and it's going to be the biggest gastronomic festival ever held in Portugal. I'll also take part in Rota das Estrelas, a 7-weekend event made by all the starry chefs from Portugal that celebrates the win/maintenance of their Michelin Stars. Besides that I can assure you I'll be in every other important event that takes place in Portugal and probably some in Spain, I'm also associated with some brands to make show-cookings in professionals fairs like Alimentária 2013 that every year draw thousands of professionals from Portugal and Spain.
I would commit myself to use your knives, a chefs coat and an apron with your brand patch during all this events and in all the restaurants where I'll work.

Some of the events I will participate draw a lot of media attention. If I have your brand clothing it will arouse the curiosity of however is watching and still don't know your band and they should be able to find your website easily. Portugal is going through a golden age when it comes to gastronomy, everyone talks about cooking and the cooks are getting more attention and coverage every single day. I can tell you that we have very good chefs in Portugal, but it's very rare to find a young cook that is able to work in so many of the best restaurants in Europe, much less in that space of time, so I honestly expect to give some interviews to magazines, newspapers and tv specially after my time in Noma. When that happens I wouldnt't forget to mention who helped along the way.

Every cook loves good knives and like everyone else we like to find new brands that are not so known around here, so I can assure you that your knives being as good as they are will arouse a lot of attention from everyone and they will ask to more about them and to give them a try. In that kind of events, where chefs from different countries are invited and bring some of their kitchen staff is a perfect chance to spread the word. Even in the college my colleagues will soon end their degrees and find themselves looking for more serious kitchen gear and they will remember the name of your brand. Also once they finish their education they are going to work in different restaurants and spread the brand over those places.

I have friends that are producers and they already told me that if I was interested in making some cooking videos that they would do them with me, so that might be an option.

I've told you the restaurants I'm sure I will be working in, but after that I will keep wanting more and I'm already thinking about going to Alinea in Chicago and Eleven Madison Park in New York but that I can't promise because it's hard to make plans more than 16 months in advance.

All I can promise you is that I have very big ambitions and I'm a very grateful person so you should know that if you help me I will do everything I can to bring you new costumers.
I'm investing all I have to be one of the best chefs in Portugal in the near future and I would like to be able to be sponsored by one of the best brands in the industry.
I believe this partnership can be extremly advantageous to your.
Please let me know if you have any interest in further discuss this with me.
Best Regards,"

Name left out..

Ill be interested to hear what you guys have to say about this as well. Dave. I hope you dont mind me adding this info and his email to the thread. If so I will ask the mods to remove it.

Inspired by God, Forged by Fire, Tempered by Water, Grounded by Earth, Guided by the spirit.. Randy Haas

Sounds like a kid doing stages in Europe and trying to get some awesome free stuff. I don't know if you know this but 99% of the people who work in the restaurants he listed work for free. I doubt he will get any publicity for working in those places, especially outside of the kitchen itself. I personally wouldn't trust that he would offer you anything that is worthwhile. I honestly think he just wants your amazing products and cannot afford them. He has a cool story but I doubt it will be noticed. If this was Thomas Keller or Rene Redzepi himself I would think about offering my products. But for a kid who is a nobody, trying to work for free in some of the worlds best restaurants, I don't think I'd send him a stick with my name on it. Who knows who this person could be and could do in the restaurant world? As of now he is a nobody and will remain an anonymous free worker for a very very long time.